Hot in Shanghai

Shanghai again. I had to go there on a business trip as consultant to our joint ventures there together with an external consultant.

The difference to my last visits? Now it's summer in Shanghai! Which means: around 37 degree celsius and extremely humid air (75% humidity)! Basically spending time outside was not really a pleasure.

That's why I didn't visit much outside, but mainly inside. I saw my first acrobatic show of the Shanghai Acrobatics Troupe. It was quite amazing how flexible human bodies can be and often I just thought: "Ouch! This must hurt!", but the acrobatics still managed to smile. Second indoor visit: The Shanghai Ocean Aquarium with the world's longest underwater tunnel (155 m) -some fish were very nice, others looked scary although they were harmless and again others looked harmful and just were that. Third visit: an area called Xitiandi in the former French concession with a Shikumen museum. Xitiandi in one word: boring. Why? Rebuilt French style houses, international restaurants, foreigners there: more than 50% and the Chinese seem to mainly visit the place where the Communist Party held its first national congress or to have a look at 'laowai's' / foreigners. The Shikumen musuem in one word: xing. Why? Shikumen is a unique architectural style in Shanghai like the Hutongs in Beijing and it's interesting to see how people used to live in Shanghai some time ago.